CARICOM Secretary-General Edwin Carrington has commended President Bharrat Jagdeo on his receipt of the United Nations Environment Programme 2010 ‘Champion of the Earth’ Award and has acknowledged the President’s tireless commitment and “sterling contribution to the preservation of the environment.”
The Award was conferred on Guyana’s President in the special category of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Management, on 22 April, 2010 at the 4th Annual Business for Environment (B4E) Global Summit and UNEP Champions of the Earth gala awards event in Seoul, South Korea.
In a congratulatory message, Secretary-General Carrington said that CARICOM heartily endorsed the UN’s description of Mr. Jagdeo as a “passionate forestry and ecosystem infrastructure proponent,” as the Community had witnessed his “zeal and conviction” in championing the cause of sustainable development through responsible stewardship of the environment.
The text of the message from Mr. Carrington reads as follows:
Excellency,
It is my great pleasure on behalf of the Caribbean Community and on my own behalf to extend heartfelt congratulations to you on being a recipient of the prestigious United Nations Environment Programme’s (UNEP) 2010 Champion of the Earth Award in the special category on Biodiversity and Ecosystems Management.
Excellency, that the United Nations has bestowed upon you and five of your peers this accolade, is testimony to your tireless commitment as individuals and as a collective to be leaders in the cause of preserving the earth.
The Caribbean Community heartily endorses the UN’s description of you as a ”passionate forestry and ecosystem infrastructure proponent” for we have been privileged to witness your zeal and conviction in championing, at the highest political level, the cause of sustainable development through responsible stewardship of the environment.
Your promotion of the Low Carbon Development Strategy in Guyana and advocacy of the Caribbean position in respect of combating climate change at the COP 15 in Copenhagen are but two of the many laudable efforts that you have led in respect of combating climate change and preserving forests. These efforts have inspired your countrymen and the Region as a whole.
It is therefore with great pride that I join the international community in acknowledging your sterling contributions to the preservation of the environment and wish you well in your continued endeavours as a ”pillar of transition”.
Please accept Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration.